7 Apr 2009

Rain forces draw in third cricket Test

5:04 pm on 7 April 2009

New Zealand has managed to hold on for a draw in the third cricket Test against India in Wellington, after persistent rain forced the umpires to abandon play on the final day of the fixture.

The Black Caps were 281 for 8 in their second innings after lunch when the rain came in.

Black Caps captain Dan Vettori was not out on 15 and Iain O'Brien not out on 19.

So India claim their first Test series victory in New Zealand since 1968.

Set an improbable 617 to win in just under two days, New Zealand were happy to leave the field just after two o'clock when a light rain shower came over the Basin Reserve, about 30 minutes after lunch.

Umpires called the game off at half past four.

India opening batsman Gautam Gambhir was man of the match.

Ross Taylor top-scored for New Zealand with 107, his fourth Test century and second in successive Tests after he scored 151 in the drawn second Test in Napier.

India won the first Test in Hamilton by 10 wickets, with the second at McLean Park ending in a draw after India batted for the final two days to save the game.